A submarine support ship is preferably a triple-hulled vessel; the lower portion of the ship is a paired-hull catamaran which is capable of deep diving, clasping the submarine at deep sea, and floating upwards together with the clasped submarine. The upper portion of the ship is a buoyancy tank, which can supply air to and pull up the deep-diving lower portion, and can also conduct security of an ocean-going submarine. For the submarine support ship of the present invention, by utilizing a mature deep diving submersible technology, the lower portion of the submarine support ship is manufactured as a deep-diving submersible in a submarine contour form, which is quickly separated from the upper portion of the submarine support ship and dives to reach the submarine position in the deep sea, clasps the submarine and then floats upwards together with the submarine as a whole to the water-surface position, such that the egress hatch of the submarine is docked with a dedicated docking hatch of the submarine support ship, to implement rescue security of the submarine; which mainly solves the problem that the rescue water-depth of current deep-diving lifeboats is shallow, but it also solves the problems that the deep-diving lifeboat has many rescue links, slow speed, and can only save people, but not submarines.

A submarine support ship is preferably a triple-hulled vessel; the lower portion of the ship is a paired-hull catamaran which is capable of deep diving, clasping the submarine at deep sea, and floating upwards together with the clasped submarine. The upper portion of the ship is a buoyancy tank, which can supply air to and pull up the deep-diving lower portion, and can also conduct security of an ocean-going submarine. For the submarine support ship of the present invention, by utilizing a mature deep diving submersible technology, the lower portion of the submarine support ship is manufactured as a deep-diving submersible in a submarine contour form, which is quickly separated from the upper portion of the submarine support ship and dives to reach the submarine position in the deep sea, clasps the submarine and then floats upwards together with the submarine as a whole to the water-surface position, such that the egress hatch of the submarine is docked with a dedicated docking hatch of the submarine support ship, to implement rescue security of the submarine; which mainly solves the problem that the rescue water-depth of current deep-diving lifeboats is shallow, but it also solves the problems that the deep-diving lifeboat has many rescue links, slow speed, and can only save people, but not submarines.

A catamaran lifting apparatus is disclosed for lifting objects in a marine environment. The apparatus includes first and second vessels that are spaced apart during use. A first frame spans between the vessels. A second frame spans between the vessels. The frames are spaced apart and connected to the vessels in a configuration that spaces the vessels apart. The first frame connects to the first vessel with a universal joint and to the second vessel with a hinged connection. The second frame connects to the second vessel with a universal joint and to the first vessel with a hinged or pinned connection. The catamaran hull arrangement provides longitudinal flexibility in a quartering sea state due to the unique universal joint and hinge placement between the frames or trusses and the hulls or barges. Each of the frames extends upwardly in an inverted u-shape, providing a space under the frame and in between the barges that enables a marine vessel to be positioned in between the barges and under the frames. In this fashion, an object that has been salvaged from the seabed can be placed upon the marine vessel that is positioned in between the barges and under the frames. Alternatively, a package that is to be lifted from the deck of a marine vessel, workboat, supply boat or the like can be lifted from the deck of the workboat, vessel, barge, etc. if it is to be then placed in the marine environment such as upon an existing jacket or other under support.

A catamaran lifting apparatus is disclosed for lifting objects in a marine environment. The apparatus includes first and second vessels that are spaced apart during use. A first frame spans between the vessels. A second frame spans between the vessels. The frames are spaced apart and connected to the vessels in a configuration that spaces the vessels apart. The first frame connects to the first vessel with a universal joint and to the second vessel with a hinged connection. The second frame connects to the second vessel with a universal joint and to the first vessel with a hinged or pinned connection. The catamaran hull arrangement provides longitudinal flexibility in a quartering sea state due to the unique universal joint and hinge placement between the frames or trusses and the hulls or barges. Each of the frames extends upwardly in an inverted u-shape, providing a space under the frame and in between the barges that enables a marine vessel to be positioned in between the barges and under the frames. In this fashion, an object that has been salvaged from the seabed can be placed upon the marine vessel that is positioned in between the barges and under the frames. Alternatively, a package that is to be lifted from the deck of a marine vessel, workboat, supply boat or the like can be lifted from the deck of the workboat, vessel, barge, etc. if it is to be then placed in the marine environment such as upon an existing jacket or other under support.

A docking device includes a docking station capable of being connected to a carrying vessel by means of a cable, the docking station comprising a guide device which comprises a set of arms which are connected to the body and each comprise a distal end and a proximal end, the set of arms being capable of being in a deployed configuration wherein it defines a space flaring towards the rear so as to enable the underwater vehicle to be guided to the stop, the distal end of each arm being located behind the proximal end of the arm in the deployed configuration, the set of arms being capable of being in a collapsed configuration wherein a distal end of each arm of the set of arms is closer to the longitudinal axis than in the deployed configuration and wherein the distal end is located in front of the position occupied by the distal end in the deployed configuration, such that a length, along the axis x, of a space defined by the set of arms behind the stop is smaller in the collapsed configuration than in the deployed configuration.

A docking device includes a docking station capable of being connected to a carrying vessel by means of a cable, the docking station comprising a guide device which comprises a set of arms which are connected to the body and each comprise a distal end and a proximal end, the set of arms being capable of being in a deployed configuration wherein it defines a space flaring towards the rear so as to enable the underwater vehicle to be guided to the stop, the distal end of each arm being located behind the proximal end of the arm in the deployed configuration, the set of arms being capable of being in a collapsed configuration wherein a distal end of each arm of the set of arms is closer to the longitudinal axis than in the deployed configuration and wherein the distal end is located in front of the position occupied by the distal end in the deployed configuration, such that a length, along the axis x, of a space defined by the set of arms behind the stop is smaller in the collapsed configuration than in the deployed configuration.

A catamaran lifting apparatus is disclosed for lifting objects in a marine environment. The apparatus includes first and second vessels that are spaced apart during use. A first frame spans between the vessels. A second frame spans between the vessels. The frames are spaced apart and connected to the vessels in a configuration that spaces the vessels apart. The first frame connects to the first vessel with a universal joint and to the second vessel with a hinged connection. The second frame connects to the second vessel with a universal joint and to the first vessel with a hinged or pinned connection. The catamaran hull arrangement provides longitudinal flexibility in a quartering sea state due to the unique universal joint and hinge placement between the frames or trusses and the hulls or barges. Each of the frames extends upwardly in an inverted u-shape, providing a space under the frame and in between the barges that enables a marine vessel to be positioned in between the barges and under the frames. In this fashion, an object that has been salvaged from the seabed can be placed upon the marine vessel that is positioned in between the barges and under the frames. Alternatively, a package that is to be lifted from the deck of a marine vessel, workboat, supply boat or the like can be lifted from the deck of the workboat, vessel, barge, etc. if it is to be then placed in the marine environment such as upon an existing jacket or other under support.

A catamaran lifting apparatus is disclosed for lifting objects in a marine environment. The apparatus includes first and second vessels that are spaced apart during use. A first frame spans between the vessels. A second frame spans between the vessels. The frames are spaced apart and connected to the vessels in a configuration that spaces the vessels apart. The first frame connects to the first vessel with a universal joint and to the second vessel with a hinged connection. The second frame connects to the second vessel with a universal joint and to the first vessel with a hinged or pinned connection. The catamaran hull arrangement provides longitudinal flexibility in a quartering sea state due to the unique universal joint and hinge placement between the frames or trusses and the hulls or barges. Each of the frames extends upwardly in an inverted u-shape, providing a space under the frame and in between the barges that enables a marine vessel to be positioned in between the barges and under the frames. In this fashion, an object that has been salvaged from the seabed can be placed upon the marine vessel that is positioned in between the barges and under the frames. Alternatively, a package that is to be lifted from the deck of a marine vessel, workboat, supply boat or the like can be lifted from the deck of the workboat, vessel, barge, etc. if it is to be then placed in the marine environment such as upon an existing jacket or other under support.

The present invention discloses a flexible dynamic capturing system for an underwater moving carrier, including a shell, a front-end flexible guide apparatus, at least one tail flexible hand clamping and fastening apparatus, and a bottom retracting apparatus fastened in the shell. The front-end flexible guiding apparatus includes several flexible arms, the several flexible arms are fastened on a first rigid base in a circumferential array. The flexible arms can bend to an inner side and outer side of a circumference respectively when driven. Each tail flexible hand clamping and fastening apparatus includes several flexible claws, and the several flexible claws are divided into two groups and fastened on a second rigid base. When the flexible claws are driven, the two groups of flexible claws can bend and wind relative to each other. The bottom retracting apparatus implements lifting or lowering of the front-end flexible guide apparatus and the tail flexible hand clamping and fastening apparatus. The flexible dynamic capturing system for the present invention can capture underwater moving carriers of different diameters, and can be retracted and stored with a compact volume.

The present invention discloses a flexible dynamic capturing system for an underwater moving carrier, including a shell, a front-end flexible guide apparatus, at least one tail flexible hand clamping and fastening apparatus, and a bottom retracting apparatus fastened in the shell. The front-end flexible guiding apparatus includes several flexible arms, the several flexible arms are fastened on a first rigid base in a circumferential array. The flexible arms can bend to an inner side and outer side of a circumference respectively when driven. Each tail flexible hand clamping and fastening apparatus includes several flexible claws, and the several flexible claws are divided into two groups and fastened on a second rigid base. When the flexible claws are driven, the two groups of flexible claws can bend and wind relative to each other. The bottom retracting apparatus implements lifting or lowering of the front-end flexible guide apparatus and the tail flexible hand clamping and fastening apparatus. The flexible dynamic capturing system for the present invention can capture underwater moving carriers of different diameters, and can be retracted and stored with a compact volume.